Getting to the boot menu in Windows 10 is essential for troubleshooting and performing advanced tasks. Whether you need to change the boot order, repair your operating system, or install a new one, accessing the boot menu is the first step. While it might seem like a daunting task, getting to the boot menu is actually quite straightforward, and there are several methods you can use to do it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the easiest and most effective ways to access the boot menu in Windows 10, so you can get started with your troubleshooting or installation tasks.
The most common way to get to the boot menu is to use the keyboard shortcut. When your computer is starting up, repeatedly press the F1, F2, F8, F10, or Del key. The specific key that works will vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer, so you may need to try a few different keys before you find the right one. If you’re not sure which key to press, consult your computer’s user manual or the manufacturer’s website.
Another way to get to the boot menu is to use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). To do this, first restart your computer. When the Windows logo appears, hold down the Shift key and select the “Restart” option. This will boot your computer into WinRE. From WinRE, you can select the “Troubleshoot” option, then the “Advanced options” option, and finally the “Startup Settings” option. Here, you can select the “Restart” button to reboot your computer into the boot menu.
Navigating the BIOS Settings
To access the BIOS settings, you need to restart your computer and press a specific key during the boot process. This key varies depending on your computer’s manufacturer, but it’s usually one of the following: F1, F2, F10, or DEL. Once you’ve pressed the correct key, you’ll be taken to the BIOS settings screen.
Finding the Boot Menu
The BIOS settings screen can be intimidating at first, but it’s actually quite simple to navigate. The layout and options will vary slightly depending on your computer’s BIOS, but there are some general things to look for. First, look for a section called “Boot” or “Boot Order.” This section will list the devices that your computer will boot from, in order of priority. To change the boot order, simply use the arrow keys to move the desired device to the top of the list. You may also need to change the “Boot Mode” setting to “UEFI” or “Legacy” mode, depending on your computer and the operating system you’re trying to boot from.
Changing the Boot Order
Once you’ve found the Boot Menu, you can change the boot order by using the arrow keys to move the desired device to the top of the list. You may also need to change the “Boot Mode” setting to “UEFI” or “Legacy” mode, depending on your computer and the operating system you’re trying to boot from.
| Boot Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| UEFI | UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a modern boot mode that provides faster boot times and more security. It’s required for booting from GPT disks and for using some advanced features of Windows 10. |
| Legacy | Legacy mode is the traditional boot mode that was used by older versions of Windows. It’s less secure and provides slower boot times than UEFI mode. |
Pressing the Right Key at Startup
Depending on your system’s configuration, you may need to press a specific key or key combination immediately after powering on your device to access the boot menu. Here’s a comprehensive list of the most commonly used keys for various device manufacturers and BIOS versions:
| Manufacturer | BIOS Version | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|---|
| Acer | All | F12 |
| Asus | AMI BIOS | F8 |
| UEFI BIOS | Esc | |
| Dell | All | F12 |
| HP | All | F9 |
| Lenovo | All | F12 |
| MSI | All | F11 or Del |
Note: Some systems may require you to press and hold the key combination or press it repeatedly. If you’re unable to access the boot menu using the key listed for your device, refer to your system’s user manual or motherboard documentation for specific instructions.
Using BIOS/UEFI Firmware Settings
1. Restart your computer while repeatedly pressing the BIOS/UEFI firmware settings key, usually F2, F10, or DEL. The key may vary depending on your computer manufacturer.
2. Navigate to the “Boot” or “Startup” menu within the BIOS/UEFI settings.
3. Locate the “Boot Order” or “Boot Priority” section. This typically displays a list of devices in the order they are checked for bootable media.
4. Use the arrow keys or function keys to move the desired boot device to the top of the list. This device will now be the first place Windows checks for boot instructions.
5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings. Your computer will now attempt to boot from the selected device.
Using the Reset Option
This method allows you to reset your computer’s boot configuration to default settings, potentially resolving any issues that may be preventing access to the boot menu.
1. Restart your computer and press the F11 key repeatedly during startup. This should open the Windows Recovery Environment.
2. Select “Troubleshoot” and then “Reset this PC.” Note that this option may wipe all data on your computer, so be sure to back up important files before proceeding.
3. Choose the “Keep my files” option to reset Windows without losing personal data. The reset process will begin, and your boot configuration will be restored to default settings.
Using an External Boot Device
1. Create a bootable USB drive or DVD using the Windows Media Creation Tool.
2. Restart your computer and insert the bootable media.
3. Press any key when prompted to boot from the media.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to access the boot menu.
| Device | Boot Key |
|—|—|
| Windows Media Creation Tool (USB/DVD) | Any key when prompted |
| BIOS/UEFI Firmware Settings | F2, F10, or DEL (varies based on manufacturer) |
| System Configuration Utility | F8 |
Accessing the Boot Menu via System Recovery
If you’re unable to access the boot menu using the previous methods, you can try using the System Recovery feature. This method is more involved, but it can be effective if the other methods don’t work.
To use System Recovery to access the boot menu, follow these steps:
- Restart your computer.
- When the Windows logo appears, press and hold the Shift key.
- Keep holding the Shift key until the Advanced Startup Menu appears.
- Click the Troubleshoot option.
- Click the Advanced options option.
- Click the Startup Settings option.
- Click the Restart button.
Once your computer restarts, you’ll see a list of startup options. Select the option you want to use to boot your computer.
Here is a table summarizing the steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Restart your computer. |
| 2 | When the Windows logo appears, press and hold the Shift key. |
| 3 | Keep holding the Shift key until the Advanced Startup Menu appears. |
| 4 | Click the Troubleshoot option. |
| 5 | Click the Advanced options option. |
| 6 | Click the Startup Settings option. |
| 7 | Click the Restart button. |
| 8 | Select the option you want to use to boot your computer. |
Creating a Bootable USB Drive
Here’s how to create a bootable USB drive:
1. Insert a USB drive
Insert a blank USB drive with at least 8GB of storage space into your computer.
2. Format the drive as FAT32
Open File Explorer, right-click on the USB drive, select “Format,” choose “FAT32” as the file system, and click “Start.” This will erase all data on the drive.
3. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
Visit Microsoft’s official website and download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.
4. Run the Media Creation Tool
Open the Media Creation Tool, select “Create installation media for another PC,” and click “Next.”
5. Select USB drive
In the “Select Media Type” page, choose “USB flash drive” and select the USB drive from the drop-down menu. Ensure the drive is inserted and recognized before selecting it. Click “Next” to start the download process.
Modifying Boot Order in BIOS
To modify the boot order in BIOS, you will need to follow these steps:
- Restart your computer and press the designated key (usually F2, F10, or Del) to enter the BIOS setup utility.
- Navigate to the “Boot” or “Boot Order” section using the arrow keys.
- Identify the section labeled “Boot Order” or “Boot Device Priority”.
- Locate the device you want to set as the primary boot device and move it to the top of the list using the +/- keys or drag-and-drop functionality.
- Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup utility by pressing the designated key (usually F10).
- Your computer will now boot from the device you selected in the BIOS.
Here is a table summarizing the steps to modify the boot order in BIOS:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Restart computer and press designated key to enter BIOS. |
| 2 | Navigate to “Boot” or “Boot Order” section. |
| 3 | Identify “Boot Order” or “Boot Device Priority” section. |
| 4 | Move desired boot device to top of list. |
| 5 | Save changes and exit BIOS setup. |
| 6 | Computer will now boot from selected device. |
Enabling the F12 Boot Menu Key
1. Turn on your computer.
2. As soon as the computer starts to boot, press and hold the F12 key repeatedly.
3. You should see a boot menu appear on the screen.
4. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the desired boot option.
5. Press Enter to boot from the selected device.
Additional notes:
The F12 boot menu key may not be available on all computers. If you cannot access the boot menu using the F12 key, you may need to use a different key. The key to use will vary depending on the make and model of your computer.
You can also enable the F12 boot menu key in the BIOS settings of your computer. To do this, follow these steps:
- Restart your computer.
- As soon as the computer starts to boot, press the key that is displayed on the screen to access the BIOS settings.
- Navigate to the “Boot” menu.
- Enable the “F12 Boot Menu” option.
- Save your changes and exit the BIOS.
Once you have enabled the F12 boot menu key, you can use it to boot from a USB drive, DVD, or other bootable device.
Table of Boot Menu Keys
| Computer Manufacturer | Boot Menu Key |
|---|---|
| Acer | F12 |
| ASUS | F8 or Esc |
| Dell | F12 |
| HP | F9 |
| Lenovo | F12 or Fn+F12 |
| MSI | F11 |
| Samsung | F2 or F10 |
How to Get to Boot Menu Windows 10
Step 1: Access Advanced Startup Options
Restart your computer. While it’s booting up, hold down the Shift key. Click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, and finally UEFI Firmware Settings. Click Restart.
Step 2: Disable Secure Boot
In the UEFI Firmware Settings menu, navigate to the Security tab. Disable Secure Boot. Save changes and exit.
Step 3: Enable Legacy Boot
Go to the Boot tab. Enable Legacy Boot. Save changes and exit.
Step 4: Set Boot Order
Go to the Boot Order tab. Set the desired boot device (e.g., USB drive) as the first boot option. Save changes and exit.
Step 5: Boot from Desired Device
Restart your computer. The computer should now boot from the desired device.
Step 6: Boot Menu Shortcut
Press F8, F10, F11, or F12 during the boot process to access the boot menu.
Step 7: Boot Menu via Command Prompt
Open Command Prompt as administrator. Type “bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy” and press Enter.
Troubleshooting Boot Menu Issues
Boot Menu Not Appearing:
- Check if Fast Startup is disabled (Settings > Power & Sleep > Additional power settings > Choose what the power buttons do > Change settings that are currently unavailable and uncheck Fast Startup).
- Try different boot menu shortcut keys.
- Use the “Boot Menu via Command Prompt” method.
Default Boot Order Resetting:
- Check if BitLocker is enabled and decrypt the hard drive.
- Reset the BIOS settings to default.
- Disable Secure Boot and enable Legacy Boot.
Advanced Boot Options
The Advanced Boot Options menu provides additional troubleshooting and recovery options. To access this menu, you can use one of the following methods:
- From the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):
- Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings.
- Navigate to the “Boot” or “Boot Options” section.
- Enable the “Boot from Recovery Device” or “UEFI Boot” option.
- Save your changes and exit the BIOS.
- Insert a Windows 10 installation or recovery media into your computer.
- Your computer will boot from the media and display the WinRE menu.
- Click on “Troubleshoot” and then select “Advanced options.”
- From the Windows Settings app:
- Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
- Navigate to “Update & Security” and then “Recovery.”
- Under “Advanced startup,” click on the “Restart now” button.
- From the command prompt:
- Open an elevated command prompt by typing “cmd” into the Start menu and selecting “Run as administrator.”
- Type the following command and press Enter:
shutdown /r /o
Once in the Advanced Boot Options menu, you can choose from a variety of options, including:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Startup Repair | Attempts to automatically diagnose and repair common boot problems |
| Safe Mode | Starts Windows in a diagnostic mode with only essential drivers and services running |
| Safe Mode with Networking | Starts Windows in Safe Mode with network connectivity enabled |
| Safe Mode with Command Prompt | Starts Windows in Safe Mode with a command prompt window open |
| System Restore | Allows you to restore your system to a previous state |
| System Image Recovery | Allows you to restore your system from an image backup |
| Startup Settings | Allows you to enable or disable various startup options |
| UEFI Firmware Settings | Allows you to access your computer’s firmware settings |
Considerations for Secure Boot Enabled Systems
Secure Boot is a security feature that helps protect your computer from malware by ensuring that only trusted software can run at startup. If Secure Boot is enabled on your computer, you’ll need to disable it in order to access the boot menu.
Here are the steps to disable Secure Boot:
- Restart your computer.
- As soon as your computer starts to boot up, press the key that is displayed on the screen to enter the BIOS setup utility. The key is typically F2, F10, or Del.
- Once you’re in the BIOS setup utility, navigate to the Security tab.
- Find the Secure Boot setting and disable it.
- Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup utility.
- Your computer will now restart.
Once your computer has restarted, you’ll be able to access the boot menu by:
- Pressing the F12 key as soon as your computer starts to boot up.
- Opening the Start menu and clicking on the Settings icon.
- Clicking on Update & Security.
- Clicking on Recovery.
- Under the Advanced startup section, clicking on Restart now.
- Your computer will now restart and you’ll be taken to the boot menu.
How To Get To Boot Menu Windows 10
The boot menu is a menu that appears on your computer screen when you start it up. It allows you to select which device you want to boot your computer from, such as your hard drive, a USB drive, or a DVD. If you need to access the boot menu, there are a few different ways to do it.
One way to access the boot menu is to press the key that is displayed on the screen during startup. This key varies depending on your computer manufacturer, but it is typically one of the following:
- F1
- F2
- F10
- Esc
If you press the correct key, the boot menu will appear on your screen. From here, you can select which device you want to boot your computer from.
Another way to access the boot menu is to use the Windows Boot Manager. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click on the Start button.
- Click on the Settings icon.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Recovery.
- Under the “Advanced startup” section, click on the “Restart now” button.
Your computer will restart and the Windows Boot Manager will appear. From here, you can select which device you want to boot your computer from.
People also ask
How do I get to the BIOS on Windows 10?
There are several ways to get to the BIOS on Windows 10. You can press the key that is displayed on the screen during startup, typically F2 or F10. You can also use the Windows Boot Manager to access the BIOS. To do this, follow the steps outlined above.
How do I get to the boot menu on a laptop?
To get to the boot menu on a laptop, you can press the key that is displayed on the screen during startup. This key varies depending on the laptop manufacturer, but it is typically one of the following: F1, F2, F10, or Esc.
How do I get to the boot menu without F2?
If you cannot get to the boot menu by pressing F2, you can use the Windows Boot Manager to access the boot menu. To do this, follow the steps outlined above.
